EU to phase out tobacco advertising despite ruling

By:
Rory Watson

The European Commission is to press ahead with legislation to phase out tobacco advertising and sponsorship inside the union despite losing a landmark case in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg last week.

The judges ruled that parts of the legislation, agreed by EU governments and the European parliament two years ago and due to take effect from next July, went beyond the powers the union had been given by its treaties. Rather than strike out only the offending measures, the court annulled the entire directive.

The judgment was an initial victory for the German government and the four British tobacco companies that had brought the legal challenge. But the response from supporters of the ban was swift.

The government for England and Wales and the Scottish Executive both announced they would be bringing forward national legislation to achieve the same goals. Public health minister Yvette Cooper said: “It